iPad: The iPad's a great tool for sketching out ideas on the go, and Forge is an app that makes that process a little easier by working less like a drawing app and more like a brainstorming tool. »2/24/15 12:30pm 2/24/15 12:30pm

It's no secret that Lifehacker reader and writers alike love to-do lists. Complex and abstract tasks don't always fit into this format, but the best first step might be to make a list anyway. »2/04/15 5:30am 2/04/15 5:30am

As the saying goes, if the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem will look like a nail. The same logic applies when you're approaching more abstract problems. A "mental model" is a way of looking at the world, and sometimes you need to expand your perspective beyond your usual mental toolbox by learning… »1/30/15 2:00pm 1/30/15 2:00pm

You have a brilliant idea for a book/business/project and you just know it's gonna take the world by storm. You can't see the flaws in your plan until you start writing your ideas down, so start writing. »12/26/14 6:00am 12/26/14 6:00am

It can be exciting when you have a eureka moment. However, rather than spilling the beans on your ideas quickly, you may be better off writing them down and giving them some more time to quietly develop in your mind to mature and complete themselves. »12/15/14 7:30am 12/15/14 7:30am

While persistence is a great virtue, some types of problems call for solutions that simply can't be developed through grinding. If you find yourself stuck on a problem or creative challenge, switch tasks after 15 minutes to take your conscious mind off it. »12/12/14 6:30am 12/12/14 6:30am

The longer you brainstorm ideas, the more entrenched and defensive people can become with them. By cutting your brainstorm session time in half, you can get the good ideas out faster and save your team from wasted time. »12/01/14 3:00pm 12/01/14 3:00pm

It's easy to get lost in the weeds at work. While being heads down has its place, it's equally critical to look up: to reflect on how things are going, to consider alternative strategies, and to ask yourself the hard, high-level questions. How can you take a step back and look at the big picture?»9/29/14 2:00pm 9/29/14 2:00pm

I have a lot of ideas in my head. And for the most part, that's where they stay. Even if you have a deluge of great ideas, there are a lot of ways you might convince yourself not to pursue them. Here are six blocks I've faced with my own ideas, and how I overcame them.»9/08/14 2:00pm 9/08/14 2:00pm

One of the big problems with meetings is that, more often than not, a small number of people end up doing the majority of the talking. To get ideas from everyone else, try asking for written submissions. »8/29/14 5:30am 8/29/14 5:30am

It's happened to all of us—you're in the shower and inspiration strikes. You struggle to remember when you get out. Sometimes you're successful, other times, maybe not—but why is the shower such a prime place for inspiration? Let's take a look, and see how you can harness that brilliance other times, too. »8/07/14 4:00am 8/07/14 4:00am

Brainstorming out loud is often the go-to for coming up with new ideas, but your group might be better off writing their ideas down before someone shares anything out loud and gets everyone heading in the same direction. »8/05/14 2:30pm 8/05/14 2:30pm

While having too few ideas is what most people complain about, it can also be difficult to keep on track when you have too many ideas floating around. If you're losing focus, try thinking less about things and just executing an idea. »7/08/14 9:30am 7/08/14 9:30am

When we brainstorm, we try to come up with a deluge of new ideas until we achieve a eureka moment, but that might not be the best way to approach it. Instead, it's better to focus on small creative steps and use analogies to help connect ideas. »6/30/14 2:00pm 6/30/14 2:00pm

The idea that you want to write down all your ideas is pretty common sense, but author Steven Johnson recommends not just keeping all those ideas in a single document, he recommends reviewing that document every few months. »3/25/14 3:00pm 3/25/14 3:00pm

"We need to see a 5% increase in sales this month," is a quantifiable goal, which is good. However, it's also deeply impersonal. Productivity blog 99u suggests that if you really want to reach this goal, you need to start with the people, not the problem. »3/05/14 6:30am 3/05/14 6:30am